Development of Aflatoxin B₁-Lysine Adduct Monoclonal Antibody for Human Exposure Studies

Mouse monoclonal antibodies were developed against a synthetic aflatoxin B₁ (AFB)-lysine-cationized bovine serum albumin conjugate. The isotype of one of these antibodies, IIA4B3, has been classified as immunnglobulin G1(λ). The affinity and specificity of IIA4B3 were further characterized by a competitive radioimmunoassay. The affinities of IIA4B3 for AFB and its associated adducts and metabolites are ranked as follows: AFB-lysine > 8,9-dihydro-8-(2,6-diamino-4-oxo-3,4-dihydropyrimid-5-yl formamido)-9-hydroxy-AFB > AFB = 8,9-dihydro-8-(N⁷-guanyl)-9-hydroxy-AFB > aflatoxin M₁ > aflatoxin Q₁. IIA4B3 had about a 10-fold higher affinity for binding to AFB-lysine adduct than to AFB when ³H-AFB-lysine was used as the tracer. The concentration for 50% inhibition for AFB-lysine was 0.610 pmol; that for AFB was 6.85 pmol. IIA4B3 had affinities at least sevenfold and twofold higher than those of 2B11, a previously developed antibody against parent AFB, for the major aflatoxin-DNA adducts 8,9-dihydro-8-(N⁷-guanyl)-9-hydroxy-AFB and 8,9-dihydro-8-(2,6-diamino-4-oxo-3,4-dihydropyrimid-5-yl formamido)-9-hydroxy-AFB, respectively. An analytical method based on a competitive radioimmunoassay with IIA4B3 and ³H-AFB-lysine was validated with a limit of detection of 10 fmol of AFB-lysine adduct. The method has been applied to the measurement of AFB-albumin adduct levels in human serum samples collected from the residents of areas at high risk for liver cancer.